Air Pump And Sponge Filters

[shiftingsands]

HI, PLease can you help meout?

I have a dual outlet air pump which has been running two airstones. I want to run 3 sponge filters and one airstone off it. So I got two splitters and attached everything up, expecting them all to be throwing out bubbles, but only one of the sponge filters is.

Please can you tell me where I am going wrong? Thanks

 

[BigC]

Hi,
Providing you airpump is powerful enough, I would buy a Tee piece and connect the twin outlets into one, then connect to gangvalves (pic below)
and adjust to suit your needs.

If your airpump is not powerful enough then you have two choices. (1) buy a larger pump, or,(2) Construct a ring main. Its easy to make from plastic overflow pipe and four 90 degree elbows. Have a look where it would be discreet to install this. Cut four straight lengths of pipework to suit and connect them altogether with the elbows. Then, again using the Tee piece connect the twin outlets into one and with straight airline connectors connect one end into the main pipework,( drill small holes and silicone the straight connectors in place) then at the other side of the pipework again using a straight connector bleed from the main into your gangevalves (pic above). The ring main has the effect of increasing the volume of air as it is under pressure contained in a larger area. You may well find that it will run more outlets than you have indicated.
Regards
BigC

 

[shiftingsands]

Wow, thanks Big C. I have bought all the bits and will have a bash at it today. The pump is strong enough I think its pretty big ( and noisy LOL). I have 6 small tanks to get ready for Endlers arriving soon

 

[shiftingsands]

Quote= " Construct a ring main. Its easy to make from plastic overflow pipe"

Hi Big C,
When you say "overflow pipe" what ml is that? I am using 6ml air line, do you mean I should use a bigger size for the ring main?
Thanks

 

[BigC]

It's white plastic overflowpipe and plastic 90 degree elbows to suit. I'm not sure of the exact dimensions as I'm not a plumber but it's in or around 19mm. (ask at the DIY store, it's used for toilet cistern overflows)
and yes you are exactly right it is quite a bit bigger and more rigid than airline. and then you drill two 6mm holes (airline thickness) at either side of your pipework and silicone in two algarde straight airline connectors. Then connect your pump supply to one side and bleed off the main at the other into gangvalves. and regulate the valves to suit your tank/s. The bigger the ring main then the more tanks you will be able to run.
Regards
BigC

 

[shiftingsands]

Thanks - its off to the DIY shop again, LOL.